What is EBSCO's A-to-Z®?EBSCO’s A-to-Z® service provides library patrons with a single, comprehensive online list of titles to which they have access. With A-to-Z, users can quickly locate and link to journals of interest. Users can search for journals by keyword or browse an alphabetical list by title or subject. Built-in administrative tools allow customization of the list including extensive branding options that allow the list to match the colors and style of the library’s other Web-based services. Our A-to-Z service is designed to help you manage your full-text content from databases, publisher packages and gateway sites. With A-to-Z, you and your end-users can find out if you have the full-text to a title by searching directly from your A-to-Z list or linking from a database to your A-to-Z list.

What titles are included in A-to-Z?The master A-to-Z title database provides link and coverage information to more than 460,000 unique titles from more than 3,600 databases and e-journals packages. All major database vendors and publishers are represented. A library’s print titles can also be included.

Can I link into my A-to-Z list from other databases or catalogs and vice versa?Yes; link-in functionality is built-in to A-to-Z. Linking out of A-to-Z to other resources is done through the EBSCO CustomLinks™ feature. CustomLinks can be simple links to the "front-door" of a service, or they can include metadata (open URL) that transfers information to the resource you wish to link to. For example, you might link from your A-to-Z list to your online catalog so your users will remember to check your print holdings (or you can add your print holdings and titles to your A-to-Z list using the upload feature).

How do I add titles to my list?A-to-Z has an easy-to-use, interactive online Title Wizard you can use to upload titles. A-to-Z also provides the unique capability of allowing you to download your list to your local computer, make changes to your local copy of the list and then upload those changes back to A-to-Z for real-time updates.

If you already have a title list, you can use the Upload feature as an alternative to the Title List Wizard for setting up your list. This is an easy way to add custom titles to your list that aren't available in the Title List Wizard. For example, you could upload your print-format titles with links to your catalog. You can also modify title attributes that are custom to your organization, such as the local holdings flag for each title.

How do I specify my institution's coverage information (i.e., customize the coverage dates that display)?You may specify custom coverage information using the Upload feature. You may either use your own list, or download the list of titles you currently have from your A-to-Z Admin site. Specify coverage information using CustomCoverageBegin and CustomCoverageEnd columns on your file. Each column will hold 100 characters. Save your file in a tab-delimited text format and upload to A-to-Z. This information will be displayed as "Your Access" on the Reader site with the coverage information specified.

Can I use my organization's logo or apply other branding?Yes; A-to-Z comes equipped with easy-to-use branding tools that allow you to change the logo, customize headers and footers, display custom messages and more. The A-to-Z Admin site has three easy sections for branding and customizing your list.

How often is my list updated?A-to-Z title data comes from several sources. EBSCO's Title Information Department updates data as soon as it is received. Data is updated in real time, bi-weekly, weekly and monthly depending on the source and the type of update. You can make changes such as editing your list, managing proxy settings, adding custom coverage, branding and more in real time.

Who updates the links?This depends on the source of the data. EBSCO updates and maintains the links and other data for resources in our managed database. If you choose to upload custom titles, such as your print titles or titles on CD-ROM, you are responsible for updating and maintaining the links and data for those titles.

Can I use a proxy server?Yes; indicate which links should be routed through your proxy server in the Proxy Server section within your A-to-Z Admin site.

Does A-to-Z provide usage reports?Yes; usage data is gathered that can produce reports on overall usage (sessions, searches and link-outs), usage of a specific journal (link-out by target) or overlap analysis for your collection. Reports are easily and instantly generated from the A-to-Z Admin site and reflect usage for your time zone. EBSCO's A-to-Z service complies with ICOLC (www.library.yale.edu/consortia) standards and does not use a client's usage data for any purpose unless written consent is obtained.

Who hosts my list?A-to-Z is hosted on EBSCO's Web servers, requiring only the addition of a single link to your list on your Web site.

Does A-to-Z support or display embargo information?Embargo information is integrated into the coverage display. For example, a title with full text available from January 1995 forward in a particular aggregation that has a six-month embargo on that title would have its coverage reported as "1995 to present (Embargo: 6 months)."

Who do I call for support?A-to-Z Customer Support is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., CDT. You may contact them by phone (1-877-327-2622 inside North America or 205-981-4000 Worldwide). Select option 2 for A-to-Z. Fax: +1.205.408.6190. E-mail: atozfeedback@ebsco.com.

How much does A-to-Z cost?EBSCO A-to-Z is very competitively priced. The charge is based on the number of unique titles in your title list. With its user-friendly interface and extensive administrative tools, A-to-Z is a true bargain. And you may be eligible for one of several discounts. Contact your nearest EBSCO Regional Office for a personalized price quote.

How does EBSCO count titles/how am I charged?EBSCO counts unique titles in your list. For example, if a title is available to your library from multiple databases, the title will be counted only one time for pricing purposes. It will display once in your list with the multiple locations displayed.

Can I obtain MARC records for my catalog?EBSCO MARC Updates is a valuable add-on to EBSCO A-to-Z. This comprehensive service provides a customizable file in MARC 21 format representing the library's e-resource holdings, title URLs and online coverage information. It supplies quality bibliographic records from CONSER and monthly updates to facilitate online catalog maintenance. A holdings change report is now included for A-to-Z with MARC customers. Using the information, which is delivered as a Microsoft® Excel file, customers can quickly see changes made to their A-to-Z account.